Promote college with your favorite shirt on May 4

The assignment is simple. The mission is important. The trend line, however, is not so good.

Texas has a lousy record for getting students to attend college. Only 56 percent of Texas high school graduates enrolled in a community college or university in 2010. The national average is 70 percent.

To increase college awareness, Texans are encouraged to wear their favorite college t-shirt on May 4 as part of a Generation Texas project aiming to create a college-going culture.

“GenTX Day (Friday, May 4) is an idea that is elegantly simple, and invites everyone to participate by simply wearing their favorite college t-shirt. Now if everyone across the state did that, just imagine how dramatic the impact of that would be just in terms of a show of support for our Texas students,” Texas Higher Education Commissioner Raymund Paredes said. “But, more importantly, imagine the opportunities for conversation that it creates. It might just be the one conversation that changes someone’s life.”

Texas celebrated its first GenTX Day last year with NFL quarterback Vince Young as its spokesperson, with support from Gov. Rick Perry, local mayors and other community leaders. Official business sponsor H-E-B led the way with its 76,000 employees wearing college t-shirts in recognition of GenTX Day. This video features some of the highlights from the inaugural GenTX Day.

Some Texas students have credited GenTX for steering them toward college.

Chasity Williams, 18, is a senior at Houston’s Jack Yates High School who wasn’t sure last year if she wanted to apply to college.

“But I am a people person and very hands-on. I worked with my advisor and she pushed and motivated me – and now I am in the top ten percent of my class,” Williams said. “She helped me with everything from learning about Apply Texas to the college board, and introduced me to the Generation TX website. Gen TX was really helpful with all of my college planning and showed me all the options. Now I know that college is the way to go. I plan to go to the University of Houston or to Texas A&M and want to become physical therapist. I am very happy and eager to go to college.”

Kassandra Gutierrez, 18, is a senior at Jefferson High School in San Antonio who will be the first in her family to attend college.

“Generation TX has been an asset for me in getting to college and how and where to apply. It has given me the resources that I need to get there,” she said. “I plan to study mass communications at Texas State University and hope to become a public relations specialist. I am so excited and ready. Here at school we have a Generation TX leadership team and help the underclassmen also get where they need to be. We are helping other kids, doing community service projects, and having weekly meetings. Community service, leadership and college awareness are the three things we focus on. We had a career exploration week that included some NBA players, media, a NASA engineer, etc. It was great for us to help other kids out.”

San Antonio Mayor Julian Castro says his community is “a proud partner of the Generation TX movement.”

“This is our second year encouraging local businesses, higher ed institutions and community partners to help create a college-going culture by wearing their favorite college t-shirt,” Castro said. “We look forward to more partners joining the journey of creating a college and career-ready Texas to not just compete, but to be a leader in the 21st century global economy.”

Houston Mayor Anise Parker adds: “The young men and women graduating from high school today are tomorrow’s leaders. Their ability to compete depends on a solid education. I want to personally thank the GenTX Movement for its work to encourage our young people to pursue a college education. I am certain this year’s effort will reach even more Texans.”